From left, leader of Liberal Democrat Party Nick Clegg debating with David Cameron of the Conservative Party and Gordon Brown of the ruling Labour.

Opinion polls in the UK point to Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg's victory in the televised general election debate.

During Britain's first live television debate between rival political parties in Manchester, Clegg appeared winner by claiming 43 percent of votes, pollster ITV broadcasted on Thursday.

Leader of the conservative Tories David Cameron and Premier Gordon Brown of the center-left Labour exchanged angry ripostes in the 90-minute debate over economy and Britain's involvement in the Afghan war which will dominate UK's May 6 election.

For his part, Clegg invited Britons to opt for a third alternative in the country's polity dominated by Conservatives or Labours and said, "Don't let them tell you that the only choice is between two old parties who have been playing pass the parcel with your government for 65 years."

The ruling Labour managed to muster only 20 percent of the votes from the 4,000 polled audience while Cameron obtained 26 percent of the votes in the opinion poll.

Other, recent polls also favor the conservatives and Clegg's party ahead of the next general election and suggest that either Labour or Tories would need an alliance with the Liberals in order to form a stronger government.